VALHALLA, N.Y. -- For cadets at the United States Military Academy, fighting pediatric illness and supporting Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital was as simple as doing the two-step.

In the inaugural six-hour Dance Marathon held last month, West Point cadets raised $20,217 for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, which is a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network. Thanks to the partnership, cadets from across the country connected with local children and helped those battling illnesses.

“The cadets at West Point were thrilled to join the growing list of students supporting the advanced care provided to seriously ill and injured children at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital,’’ said Meredith Buono Dagrossa, manager of marketing and community relations at the hospital. “Dance Marathon is more than a fundraiser. It is an incredibly moving, high-energy event where students, the community, families and children who benefited from lifesaving and life-changing care come together to support the hospital.’’

Dance Marathon is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program and is held at dozens of universities and colleges across North America. During Dance Marathon events, students bond with former children’s hospital patients through games, structured activities, fundraising efforts and hours of dancing.

West Point cadets are the first service academy students to host a Dance Marathon and join the ranks of students at Iona College, Mount Saint Mary College, Pace University and the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz who have participated in the events.

100 percent of donated funds through the event support the care of children undergoing open-heart surgery, brain surgery, trauma and burn care, cancer treatments and other advanced services at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.